PREP WRESTLING: The fight for four ... Coeur d'Alene senior Alyssa Randles looks for fourth title, a fun finish to high school career

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

No, Coeur d’Alene High senior wrestler Alyssa Randles tries not to get caught up in the result.

As she will say …

“The biggest thing I’ve learned in the last four years is to have fun,” Randles said. “Whether it’s going to practice or a match, or going for a run to try and get your weight down. I’ve learned to just embrace it and be thankful for the opportunity to do that.”

It’s an opportunity that girls around the state finally received last year as the Idaho High School Activities Association sanctioned a separate girls state tournament, running alongside the boys tournament.

Prior to last year, an invitational state tournament was held.

Randles won the state title at 126 pounds in 2022, her third after winning state invitational titles in 2021 and 2020.

This year's state tournament, a one-class tourney for all girls running alongside the boys state tournaments, begins today and runs through Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

“It really felt more rewarding to win last year,” Randles said. “More people were recognizing winning state titles, the girls wrestling girls and getting that same respect as the boys.”

Something that Randles didn’t think she’d see while in high school.

“It felt like we were getting the same opportunities that the boys got,” Randles said. “Those two years where the tournaments were in a high school, it didn’t feel like state. To actually see it change while I’m in high school was really cool to see. It’s really special to know that everyone coming in after me is going to have that same opportunity.”

But it hasn’t always been wrestling for Randles, whose father Mike, is the principal at Coeur d’Alene High. Mike Randles coached Sandpoint to three straight 4A wrestling titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Her oldest brother, Casey, was a three-time champion and her other brother, Nolan, was runner-up twice at state.

“I’ve done a lot of sports from dance, soccer and volleyball,” Alyssa said. “I’ve done everything, and wrestling is the one that stuck with me and made me the person I am. It’s something that I look forward to doing each day and it’s given me a purpose more than any other sport. The fight of it is something that I enjoy. You’re more emotionally attached to it because it’s an individual sport.”

Alyssa was third at Fargo Nationals in 2022.

“I love competing,” she said. “Just knowing that I worked hard in practice, I trust myself during the match and don’t really get nervous. I just go out like it’s practice, score as many points as I can and have fun.”

She’s also learned plenty from her family over the years.

From dad …

“He’s taught me that it’s easy to get caught up in winning and losing,” Alyssa said. “But none of that really matters to me. But if you’re enjoying it and having fun, that’s why I do it because it’s fun.”

From her brothers …

“Casey has just told me to work hard and embrace it all,” she said. “Nolan has taught me the fun side of things and enjoying it all, and just being thankful, win or lose.”

Alyssa Randles is 31-4 as a senior and carries a 98-28 record in four years at Coeur d’Alene High.

“I think I’ve just been more focused on having fun with it knowing it’s my last year,” Alyssa said. “After this weekend, I’ll never wrestle folkstyle again and be wrestling freestyle the rest of my life. To me, it’s more about getting better in each practice and taking things one day at a time.”

Folkstyle wrestling allows for moves from the bottom position. In freestyle, wrestlers are trying to throw their opponent to the mat.

Something else that Alyssa has borrowed from Casey, who wrestled at Wyoming before transferring and winning an NAIA title in 2022 at Grand View in Des Moines, Iowa, is his pre-match ritual.

“I love to read and my older brother would read books before his matches, so I started doing that too,” Alyssa said. “I love 'The Great Gatsby' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' It just gives me time to think and relax before the match.”

Alyssa intends to wrestle in college, but is undecided where at the moment.

“I’m going to wrestle in college and plan to sign in the spring,” Alyssa Randles said. “My goal is to make a World team and reach the Olympic level. I’ve still got four visits to take and several places to look at.”

A few options include NAIA Grand View in Des Moines, Iowa, where Casey is an assistant coach and Southern Oregon in Ashland, where Nolan is a redshirt freshman, and North Central, a Division III school in Naperville, Ill.

“They’re No. 1 in the nation right now,” Alyssa said. “I really liked the visit and the rest of the team. But I’m going to visit a couple more schools, so I’ve got a lot to figure out still.”

Alyssa also credits Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Moffat for helping develop her work ethic.

“He’s really taught me to come into practice each day with a purpose,” she said. “You’re not just punching a time card to come in and get out. You’re coming in for a reason, so embrace the chance you have to do that.”

“When she comes into the wrestling room, it’s all business,” Moffat said. “She’s got a real maturity level and just loves wrestling. She’s a wrestling junkie and can’t get enough of it. Her focus and how she gets herself ready to compete has been great."

Alyssa Randles is the top seed at 126 pounds at state this week.

With a win this weekend, Randles will join Gunner Giulio as the only four-time state champions at Coeur d’Alene High.

“I’m probably a little nervous, but trust the work I’ve put in,” Randles said. “I trust in my ability to perform, so I’m really just going to have fun and go wrestle hard and finish out my folkstyle career. No matter where I am, whether it’s a big match in a big arena or high school, I try to treat it the same.”

“Her attitude is that she wrestles because she enjoys it,” Moffat said. “She doesn’t focus on winning and losing, but on how many points she can score in a match. The people that focus on winning and losing, that’s where it can go sideways, and it’s what we preach to everyone. She’s opened the door and left a mark on girls wrestling in this state for sure. If girls want to get into wrestling, they should look up to her for sure. Even boys, she can wrestle them too.”